Running machine

ABSTRACT

A running machine having a reduced height from the ground to a running surface on an endless belt without decreasing the outside diameter of a driving roller. The running machine includes a driving roller for rotating the endless belt mounted in an inner portion of a frontal end of the endless belt, and a tension member mounted near the driving roller, depressing the upper portion of the endless belt toward a lower portion thereof to maintain a tensioned state of the endless belt. Thus, the distance between the upper portion and the lower portion of the endless belt is made smaller than the diameter of the driving roller.

CLAIMING FOREIGN PRIORITY

[0001] The applicant claims and requests a foreign priority, through the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industry Property, based on a patent application filed in Japan with the filing date of Sep. 12, 2000, with the patent application number 2000-276440, by the applicant. (See the Attached Declaration)

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a running machine, more particularly, to a running machine mainly used as an indoor utility for uses of health, medical cure and exercise of the user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] One of the examples of the prior art running machines is shown in FIG. 9.

[0004] The shown running machine is provided with a running plate 4 mounted between an upper portion 3 a and a lower portion 3 b of an endless belt 3 which is mounted on a lower support 1 and bent at a front end and a rear end, an upper surface of the upper portion 3 a being a surface on which the user runs or walks, the running plate supporting the upper portion 3 a of the endless belt 3 and coming into a sliding-contact with the upper portion 3 a. The running machine is also provided with a driving roller 5 for rotating the endless belt 3 mounted in an inner portion of the front end of the endless belt 3, a support roller 6 for rotating the endless belt 3 mounted in an inner portion of the rear end of the endless belt 3, and a driving unit 7 for rotating the driving roller 5.

[0005] The driving unit 7 is to transmit the rotation of a driving motor 8 to the driving roller 5 via a power transmission 9. The power transmission 9 includes a driving sprocket 9 a mounted to a rotating shaft of the driving motor 8, a driven sprocket 9 b mounted to a shaft of the driving roller 5, and a timing belt wound around both the driving and the driven sprockets 9 a and 9 b.

[0006] In use, the user rides on the upper surface 2 of the upper portion 3 a the endless belt 3 from a side of the front end thereof and sets the number of rotation per unit time of the driving motor 8 of the driving unit 7 by using a controller (not shown). Next, the user walks or runs on the upper surface 2 according to a speed of the endless belt 3 after energizing the movement of the endless belt 3.

[0007] In the prior art running machine described above, however, during the course of riding on the endless belt 3 or getting down from the running machine, the user, especially, the elderly or the disabled, experiences the difficulty in a case that the height H from the ground G to the upper surface 2 of the endless belt 3 is high. Further, when the user missteps and is pushed beyond the rear end of the endless belt 3, it would be desirable if the height H is smaller to reduce the shock when the user falls down.

[0008] In order to solve this problem, an attempt to reduce the distance L between the upper portion 3 a and the lower portion 3 b of the endless belt 3 and the diameters of the driving roller 5 and the support roller 6 has been proposed. However, in the prior art running machine, since the driving roller 5 transmits its rotation to the endless belt 3 via a frictional resistance, if the diameter of the driving roller 5 is reduced, the frictional resistance between the endless belt 3 and the driving roller 5 is also reduced, increasing a possibility of slippage therebetween to not fully transmit the power therebetween. For this reason, reducing the diameter of the driving roller 5 has much limitations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide a running machine having a reduced height from the ground to an upper surface of an endless belt without reducing a diameter of a driving roller.

[0010] In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides a running machine is provided with a lower support being contacted to the ground and having side frames separated from each other, a running belt of an endless belt mounted between said side frames, adapted to have a running plate inserted thereinto and an upper surface on which a user runs, the running plate having a slide surface coming into a sliding-contact with a lower surface of an upper portion of the endless belt, a driving roller for rotating the endless belt mounted in an inner portion of a frontal end of the endless belt, a sliding member for guiding the rotational movement of the endless belt mounted in an inner portion of a rear end of the endless belt, a driving unit for rotating the driving roller; and a tension roller mounted near the driving roller, depressing the upper portion of the endless belt toward a lower portion to maintain a properly tensioned state of the endless belt and having a smaller diameter than that of the driving roller.

[0011] According to this feature, the inventive running machine is provided with the tension roller depressing the upper portion of the endless belt toward the lower portion, thereby making the distance between the upper and the lower portions smaller than the diameter of the driving roller. As a result, a higher degree of reduction may be achieved in the distance between the ground and the upper surface of the endless belt.

[0012] In using the inventive running machine, the user rides on the endless belt from a side of the rear end thereof. In this situation, the reduction of the height may give the user much convenience, allowing the user to be easily ride on the endless belt.

[0013] In this state, after starting the rotation of the endless belt, the user walks or runs on the upper surface of the endless belt according to the speed of the endless belt. During his exercise, even if the user missteps and is pushed into the rear end of the endless belt, the user may receive a less shock due to the reduced height between the ground and the upper surface of the endless belt.

[0014] Next, when the user wants to stop exercise, he gets down through a side of the rear end of the endless belt. The reduced height compared with in the prior art allows the user to be easily get down from the running machine.

[0015] Further, if desired, the tension roller may be a sliding tensioning member coming into a sliding-contact with the endless belt.

[0016] A tension adjusting unit for adjusting the depressing force of the tension roller to the endless belt may be provided for maintaining a proper tension of the endless belt and a proper rotational movement of the endless belt.

[0017] The sliding member is formed as a roller which rotates in response to the rotational movement of the endless belt.

[0018] The sliding member is formed as a member coming into a sliding-contact with the endless belt. In this case, the sliding member is integrally formed with the running plate as an end thereof.

[0019] The driving roller is so arranged and positioned that a lower tangent line of the driving roller can be in accordance with the surface of the lower portion of the endless belt along the running plate. For this reason, it is possible for the lower portion of the endless belt to be wound around the driving roller without bending the lower portion. Accordingly, the endless belt has a simplified structure and a reduced resistance and can be properly rotated.

[0020] If desired, the driving roller may be so arranged and positioned that a lower tangent line of the driving roller can be above the surface of the lower portion of the endless belt along the running plate, and an auxiliary contact roller member coming into a rolling-contact with the upper surface of the lower portion of the endless belt may be mounted in a front end of the running plate near the driving roller. This configuration may increase an adaptability of the member into the various situations related to the installation of the driving roller and a wide use.

[0021] In a case described above, the auxiliary contact roller member may be formed as a roller rotating in response to the rotation of the endless belt.

[0022] The auxiliary contact roller member may be formed as a member coming into a sliding contact with the endless belt.

[0023] The lower support is provided with a cover for protecting a lower surface of the lower portion of the endless belt. Accordingly, the endless belt is prevented from being contacted to the ground to be worn, increasing the durability.

[0024] Since the inclined plate may be provided to the running machine, which extends from the ground to the rear end of the endless belt, the user may easily ride on the running machine and get down more safely. Particularly, during his exercise, even if the user missteps and is pushed into the rear end of the endless belt, the user may ride on the inclined plate, reducing the shock or deviating from the danger situation. Furthermore, the distance or height between the ground and the upper surface of the upper portion of the endless belt is equal to 40 mm or lower, in a preferred embodiment. This value allows the user to be easily ride on or get down from the endless belt, when the user rides on the endless belt from a side of the rear end of the endless belt or gets down from the running machine. Furthermore, even if the user missteps and is pushed into the rear end of the endless belt, the value of the height may reduce the shock which may be given to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The above and other objects and features of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a running machine in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 2 shows a side sectional view of the running machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 3 depicts a side elevational view of the running machine in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 4 depicts a sectional view of the running machine shown in FIG. 2, taken along the line A-A;

[0030]FIG. 5 presents a perspective view of the inventive running machine being used by the user;

[0031]FIG. 6 illustrates a side sectional view of the running machine having a tension member in accordance with a modification of the present invention;

[0032]FIGS. 7a and 7 b represent enlarged views of modifications of a slider member of the inventive running machine, respectively;

[0033]FIGS. 8a and 8 b show side sectional views of modifications of a mounting place of a driving roller of the inventive running machine, respectively; and

[0034]FIG. 9 gives a side sectional view of the prior art running machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to accompanying drawings.

[0036] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the inventive running machine is provided with a lower support 10 including a base plate 11 of a rectangular shape made of metal and mounted in a frontal portion and side frames 12 of a pair of metal channels extending rearwardly from both lateral portions of the base plate 11. The base plate 11 is provided with a pair of lateral plates 13 mounted upright from both sides thereof. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, anti-sliding plates 14 made of rubber are attached on bottom surfaces of the base plate 11 and the side frames 12.

[0037] Reference numeral 20 designates an endless belt having a flexible (or bendable) property and made of resin. The endless belt 20 is mounted a rear portion of the base plate 10, extending between the side frames 12 and being bent down at its ends, and is provided with an upper portion 20 a externally positioned and having an upper surface 21 on which the user will run or walk, and a lower portion 20 b internally positioned.

[0038] Reference numeral 22 designates a running plate made a hard resin, mounted between the side frames 12 of the lower support 10, positioned between the upper portion 20 a and the lower portion 20 b and coming into a sliding-contact with the upper portion 20 for supporting the same.

[0039] Reference numeral 23 designates a driving roller mounted in an inner portion of frontal end of the endless belt 20 for a rotational movement of the endless belt 20. The driving roller 23 is coupled to a driving roller shaft 24 mounted between the lateral plates 13 for the rotational movement.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 2, the driving roller 23 is so arranged and positioned that a lower tangent line Ra of the driving roller 23 can be in accordance with a surface Rb of the lower portion 20 b of the endless belt 20 along the running plate 22. For this reason, it is possible for the lower portion 20 b of the endless belt 20 to be wound around the driving roller 23 without bending the lower portion 20 b. The endless belt 20 has a simplified structure and a reduced resistance and can be properly rotated.

[0041] Reference numeral 25 designates a slider member mounted in an inner portion of a rear end of the endless belt 20 for the proper rotational movement of the endless belt 20. The slider member 25 comes into a sliding-contact with the endless belt 20. More specific, as shown in FIG. 2, the slider member 25 constitutes an end of the running plate 22 and has a semi-circular cross section.

[0042] Reference numeral 26 designates a driving unit for rotating the driving roller 23. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the driving unit 26 is provided with a driving motor 27 mounted on the base plate 11, and a power transmission 28 for transmitting the rotation of the driving motor 27 to the driving roller 23. The power transmission 28 includes a driving sprocket 28 a mounted to a rotating shaft of the driving motor 27, a driven sprocket 28 b mounted to the driving roller shaft 24 in a coaxial relationship with the driving roller 23, and a timing belt 28 c wound around the driving sprocket 28 a and the driven sprocket 28 b.

[0043] Reference numeral 30 designates a tension roller mounted near the driving roller 23 and depressing the upper portion 20 a of the endless belt 20 toward the lower portion 20 b to obtain a tensioned-state of the endless belt 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the tension roller 30 has a smaller diameter than that D of the driving roller 23. The tension roller 30 is rotated in response to the rotational movement of the endless belt 20 and has a tension roller shaft 32 mounted to a pair of shaft supports 31 formed on the lateral plates 13 of the base plate 11, respectively. The tension roller 30 is rotatable about the tension roller shaft 32.

[0044] Reference numeral 33 designates a tension adjusting unit for adjusting the tension of the endless belt 20. As shown in FIG. 3, the tension adjusting unit 33 is formed in the shaft support 31 and is provided with a an elongate hole 34 for providing the tension roller shaft 32 with a tension adjusting function and a bolt 37 to be engaged into a female thread 36 formed through the tension roller shaft 32 along the line perpendicular to an axis of the tension roller shaft 32. The bolt 37 is rotatably mounted in an external member 35 formed on an end of the shaft support 31 facing the driving motor 27. The rotation of the bolt 37 changes the position of the female thread 36 of the tension roller shaft 32 relative to the bolt 37 and hence displaces the tension roller 30, thereby adjusting the tension of the tension belt 20.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, since the upper portion 20 a of the endless belt 20 is depressed toward the lower portion 20 b, the distance L between the upper portion 20 a and the lower portion 20 b can be smaller than the diameter D of the driving roller 23, making the assembly of the endless belt 20 slim size. As a preferred embodiment, a height H from an earth contact surface G or the ground to the upper surface 21 of the upper portion 20 a of the endless belt 20 may be equal to 40 mm or lower. Preferably, the height H be 30 mm.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, reference numeral 40 designates a cover for protecting a lower surface of the lower portion 20 b of the endless belt 20, the cover mounted between the side frames 12 of the lower support 10.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 5, reference numeral 41 designates an inclined plate having an inclined surface 41 a extending from the ground to the rear end of the endless belt 20, with both ends of the inclined plate fixed to the side frames 12 of the lower support 10.

[0048] Further, reference numeral 42 designates a motor cover covering the driving motor 27 and mounted on the base plate 11 of the lower support 10, while reference numeral 43 designating a controller for controlling the number of rotation per minute of the driving motor 27 mounted to an arch-shaped member 44. Reference numeral 45 designates a support frame for supporting the user to facilitate his exercise, i.e., walking or running by allowing the user between both side frames 12 to grasp the support frame 45. Wheels 47 for a movement of the running machine are provided.

[0049] The operation of the running machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is now described. Previously, the tension of the endless belt 20 is adjusted by using the tension roller of the tension adjusting unit 33.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 5, the user rides on the endless belt 20 from a side of the rear end of the endless belt 20. At the time, the user may approach the endless belt 20 through stepping on the inclined plate 41. Further, since the distance L between the upper and the lower portions 20 a and 20 b of the endless belt 20 is small, the height H from the earth contact surface G to the upper surface 21 of the upper portion 20 a of the endless belt 20 is very small, e.g., under 40 mm, making it easy for the user to ride on the endless belt 20.

[0051] In using the running machine, the user may properly set the rotation number per unit time of the driving motor 27 using the controller 43, grasping the support frame 45. Then, the user may walk or run on the upper surface 21 of the upper portion 20 a according to the speed of the endless belt 20 after energizing the rotation of the endless belt 20.

[0052] In the rotation of the endless belt 20, since the driving roller 23 has the same diameter as that in the prior art, the rotation of the driving roller 23 is fully transmitted to the endless belt 20 due to a sufficient frictional resistance therebetween. Further, since the lower surface of the lower portion 20 b of the endless belt 20 is covered with the cover 40, the endless belt 20 is prevented from being contacted to the ground to be worn, with its lifetime being increased.

[0053] During his exercise, even if the user missteps to be in a situation where he can not follow the speed of the endless belt 20, so that he is pushed into the rear end of the endless belt 20, the user may ride on the inclined plate 41, reducing the shock when he falls down or deviating from the danger situation. Further, even if the user is unwantedly deviated from the endless belt 20, since the height H from the earth contact surface G to the upper surface 21 of the upper portion 20 a of the endless belt 20 is small, e.g., under 40 mm, the possibility for the user to be injured or hurt may be reduced.

[0054] When the user wants to stop walking or running, he manipulates the controller 43 which in turn stops the driving motor 27 and then gets down from the runninq machine through stepping on the inclined plate 41. At this time, the user may slowly and easily step on the inclined plate 41 to get down from the endless belt 20. Further, the height H from the earth contact surface G to the upper surface 21 of the upper portion 20 a of the endless belt 20 is small, e.g., under 40 mm, and enables the user to easily get down from the endless belt 20.

[0055] In FIG. 6, a tension member as a modification of the tension roller 30 of the inventive running machine is shown. The tension member 30 is of a sliding member coming into a sliding-contact with the endless belt 20, the sliding member having a rod-like shape or a disk-like shape and made of resin. The tension member 30 may bring a same function and effect as those of the tension roller described previously.

[0056] In FIGS. 7a and 7 b, modifications of the slider member 25 of the inventive running machine are shown. A slider member 25 shown in FIG. 7a is formed by bending an end of a plate like running plate 22. A slider member 25 shown in FIG. 7b is formed as a rotating roller which rotates in response to the rotation of the endless belt 20. These slider members 25 may bring a same effect and function as those of the slider member described above.

[0057] In FIG. 8a, there is shown a modification of the mounting place of the driving roller 23 of the inventive running machine. In the modification, the driving roller 23 is so positioned and arranged that a lower tangent line Ra of the driving roller 23 can be above the surface Rb of the lower portion 20 b of the endless belt 20 along the running plate 22. An end of the running plate 22 has a sliding member 50 at a portion coming into a sliding-contact with an upper surface of the lower portion 20 b of the endless belt 20 for helping the rotational movement thereof. The sliding member 50 is integrally formed with the running plate 22 as an end.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 8b, the sliding member 50 may be formed as a roller which rotates in response to the rotation of the endless belt 20. This configuration may increase an adaptability of the sliding member 50 into the various situations related to the installation of the driving roller 23 and a wide use.

[0059] As described above, since the inventive running machine is provided with a tension roller or the like which depresses the upper portion of the endless belt toward the lower portion to adjust the tension of the endless belt, making the distance between the upper and the lower portions smaller than the diameter of the driving roller, the height from the earth contact surface to the upper surface of the upper portion of the endless belt is very small. This enables the assembly of the endless belt to be slim size. Further, when the user rides on the endless belt from a side of the rear end of the endless belt or gets down from the running machine, the reduced height allows the user to easily ride on or get down. Further, during his exercise, even if the user missteps to be in a situation where he can not follow the speed of the endless belt, so that he is pushed into the rear end of the endless belt, the reduced height may mitigate the shock or danger.

[0060] The tension adjusting unit provided with the tension roller for adjusting the tension of the endless belt may maintain a proper tension of the endless belt to promote a proper rotational movement of the endless belt.

[0061] In a case that the driving roller is so arranged and positioned that a lower tangent line of the driving roller can be in accordance with a surface of the lower portion of the endless belt along the running plate, it is possible for the lower portion of the endless belt to be wound around the driving roller without bending the lower portion. Therefore, the endless belt has a simplified structure and a reduced resistance and can be properly rotated.

[0062] Further, In a case that the driving roller is so arranged and positioned that a lower tangent line of the driving roller can be above the surface of the lower portion of the endless belt along the running plate, and that the sliding member coming into a contact with the upper surface of the lower portion of the endless belt is integrally formed with the running plate as an end, the adaptability of the sliding member into the various situations related to the installation of the driving roller and a wide use of the sliding member are increased.

[0063] Since the lower surface of the lower portion of the endless belt is covered with the cover, the endless belt is prevented from being contacted to the ground to be worn, with its lifetime being increased.

[0064] Since the inclined plate is provided to the running machine, which extends from the ground to the rear end of the endless belt, the user may easily ride on the running machine and get down more safely. Particularly, during his exercise, even if the user missteps to be in a situation where he can not follow the speed of the endless belt, so that he is pushed into the rear end of the endless belt, the user may ride on the inclined plate, reducing the shock or deviating from the danger situation. Furthermore, when the distance between the ground and the upper surface of the upper portion of the endless belt is equal to 40 mm or lower, the function and effect of the inclined plate described above is more clearly shown.

[0065] Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A running machine comprising: a lower support being contacted to the ground and having side frames separated from each other; a running belt of an endless belt mounted between said side frames, adapted to have a running plate inserted thereinto and an upper surface on which a user runs, the running plate having a slide surface coming into a sliding-contact with a lower surface of an upper portion of the endless belt; a driving roller for rotating the endless belt mounted in an inner portion of a frontal end of the endless belt; a sliding member for guiding the rotational movement of the endless belt mounted in an inner portion of a rear end of the endless belt; a driving unit for rotating the driving roller; and a tension roller mounted near the driving roller, depressing the upper portion of the endless belt toward a lower portion to maintain a properly tensioned state of the endless belt and having a smaller diameter than that of the driving roller.
 2. The running machine of claim 1, wherein said tension roller is a roller adapted to be rotated in response to the rotational movement of the endless belt.
 3. The running machine of claim 1, wherein said tension roller is a sliding tensioning member coming into a sliding-contact with the endless belt.
 4. The running machine of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a tension adjusting unit for adjusting the tension of the endless belt is provided.
 5. The running machine of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said sliding member is formed as a roller which rotates in response to the rotational movement of the endless belt.
 6. The running machine of claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said sliding member is formed as a member coming into a sliding-contact with the endless belt.
 7. The running machine of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein said driving roller is so arranged and positioned that a lower tangent line of the driving roller can be above the surface of the lower portion of the endless belt along the running plate, and an auxiliary-contact roller member coming into a rolling-contact with the upper surface of the lower portion of the endless belt is mounted in a front end of the running plate.
 8. The running machine of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein said lower support is provided with a cover for protecting a lower surface of the lower portion of the endless belt. 